Over 70 Entrepreneurs Benefitting from Training

Over 70 local and regional entrepreneurs and innovators are currently benefiting from training in product and business development skills under the Caribbean Green Tech Start-up Boot camp.

The programme, which is an initiative of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC) aims to identify and support Caribbean entrepreneurs and new ventures that are developing locally appropriate solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The boot camp which started on Friday (February 26) is scheduled to be completed on February 28.

Participants are being exposed to the rudiments of developing a start up team and are being given advice on market access and marketing of their products.

They will also have the opportunity to network with peers and industry experts from the energy sector.

At the end of the 54 hour intensive boot camp, participants will be empowered with the skills and tools relevant to start sustainable and innovative, green technology businesses.

The boot camp trainers are from the London based business development and management company, MAQTOOB Limited.

Three of the seven member teams will be selected to advance to the accelerator programme. The winners will also receive cash prizes of US$1000, while the second and third place winners will receive US$500 and US$250 respectively.

In his remarks at the launch held on Friday, February 26 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Cliff Riley said that the CCIC project aims to take a small and medium enterprise (SME) driven approach to finding solutions to climate change issues in the Caribbean.

“It is a project for the entire Caribbean region to build capacity and to ensure that the people of the Caribbean, their innovative products and ideas can be translated into viable businesses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the CCIC, Everton Hanson said that the project is poised to address actionable climate problems in the region.

He added that the programme which targets young entrepreneurs aims to develop “green innovations” which he argued, can have a positive impact on sustainable economic growth and job creation.

“Finding solutions to these problems can improve the economy and at the same time make money for the innovators,” he noted.

The CCIC is a joint a joint initiative of the locally based SRC and the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), the premier research institute in Trinidad and Tobago.

The project is funded by the Government of Canada through the World Bank.